Brine tank elevator



Dec. 8, 1953 T. c. scHENK BRINE TANK ELEVATOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5, 1950 INVENTOR l TamzS C.Sclzenk BY @WMM/@L ATTORNEYS Dec. 8, 1953 T. c. scHx-:NK 2,561,751

BRINE TANK ELEVATOR Filed April 5, 1950 3 sheets-sheet s lNvENToR 7221711115 CSCzen// BY jg, l

A RNEY Patented Dec. 8, 1953 Tamis C. Schenk, Richmond Hill, N.Y Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Fruit Products Core poration, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 5, 1950,`Serial No. 154,115l` As conducive to an understanding vof the invention, it is to be noted that in the manufacture of stick-held confections, the sticks on'which the confections are to be formed are retained in aA conventional stick holder which is thenV placed in a mold filled with a suitable mix toform the confection. The filled mold and stick holder which form a relatively heavy unit, in the order of approximately 35v lbs., are lowered into a brine tank and advanced therethrough in order that the mix may solidify.

Where such procedure requires an attendant manually to lift up the .relatively heavy units and then lower the sameinto the brine tank; he can only function at a relatively slow speed with resultant low output andas, during the Vcourse of a day, many hundreds of units must be deposited in the tank, the resultant relatively great'physical strain may cause severe injury to the attendant.

In addition to such physical strain and low output, the attendantis likely to tilt the unit while lowering the latter into the tank which may cause the mix in the mold to spill therefrom with resultant variations in the shape and size of the confection formed, or spread'over the top of such mold with the result that a layer of frozen mix would join the upper ends of the stick-held confections. This would add to the cost 'of the iinished product in that the additional step of manually breaking such layer would be requiredV in order that the individual confections could be removed.

`It' is accordingly among the objects vof the invention to provide an elevator that may readily be installed, in a conventional brine tank with but slight, relatively simple modifications in the construction thereof, which elevator has but few, inexpensive, sturdy parts that are not likely to become out of order and which will gradually lower the filled mold` and stick holder unit into .the brine tank withoutany exertion on the part 8 Claims.` (Cl. 134-.-134)y tanks, which is actuatedV byV a reciprocating pusher bar, whereby the 'molds willrs't belowered in a horizontal plane to substantiallyein alignment with theV submerged trackwaysyand thenthepusher bar passes over the elevator to engage the molds positioned `thereon andupush them off said elevator onto their respective track- Ways.

Another obiectoflthe invention is lto provide a sim-ple and effective means for lowering -aplurality of molds into a circulating brine of a conventional brine tank in` alignment with' a -plu'- rality of submerged trackways, remove the molds from said lowering means onto said trackways, and then return said lowering means toits normal mold receiving position above said brine'a'djacent the receivingend of saidtank.

According to theinvention theelevator is incorporated into a conventional brine tank of the type lhaving pairs'oftracks extending longitudinally Ythereof to guide rows of mold and stick holder units' along the length of the tank so that ther mix in the molds may bev frozen, the brine tank having means to engage the rearmost unit in such row intermittently'to advance the units through thetank. The elevator, one of which is associated with-eachof' such pair' of tracks, desirably includes a'tray 4which is mounted, preferably bya parallel motion linkage, on the'floor of the tank'in horizontal position andV capable of reciprocablev movement with respect to such oor both in a forward downwardly' direction and in a rearward upwardly direction. Thus when a unit is'placedon the tray when the latter is in its upperrearmost position, the unit may simultaneously be lowered and advanced in horizontal position onto such pair of tracks. lThe elevator isoperativelyconnected to the pusher bar of the brine tank, which bar extends transversely across such tank and isreciprocable in the same direction as is `the tray. The connection between the elevator and-pusherfbarrisso arranged` that when` the latter is in its rearmost position preparatory tol advancing the units in the tank', the tray portion of the elevator vwill be in its uppermost position andas'the pusher Vbar is advanced to its forwardmost position, the tray will be 10W- ered until the unit thereon' lies ontheass'ociated pair of tracks 'ini suchbrine tank, continued forward movementof the pusher bar causing the latter to engage" the rear wallv of the mold portion of the unit toadvance the latter olf the tray forwardly along such pair `of tracks.'V At this time'the pusher bar will be moved in a rearward direction and in such rearward motionthereof In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention,`

In order to mount the tray 28 in the brine tank il so that it may be longitudinally aligned with the pair oi tracks I4 and I5, a plurality of linkage arms 33 of substantially identical length are provided, desirably positioned in pairs on each side of the tracks i4 and I5. The lower ends of each of said linkage arms are pivotally mounted, preferably by means of horizontal pins 35 through hubs 3B respectively, the latter being desirably formed integral with each of the ends of astrip 31 afnxed as by bolts 38 to the iioor I2 of the brine tank and positioned adjacent to y vand extending longitudinally of the outer face Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective ViewV of ,alV

brine tank having an elevator installed thereinand in uppermost position,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary end view oi the-tank l taken along line 2-2 of Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional viewtakenfli along line 3 3 of Fig. 2

Figri is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing'the 'elevator in lowered position,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the elevator shown in Fig. l, showing in greater detail the mechanism for operating the reciprocating pusher bar, and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line G--Ii of Fig. 5, showing details of the drive for the operating mechanism.

Referring now. to the drawings, the brine tank II which is conventional in construction, has a floor or base I2 beneath which the freezing coils I3are positioned. Extending longitudinally of the brine tank II on the floor I2 thereof are a plurality of pairs of tracks I4 and I5, which are desirably angle irons, as shown, each of said pairs of tracks serving to guide a row of units, each including a mold I6 with a stick holder (not shown) therein through the brine tank.

Means are desirably provided intermittently to advance the units along the tracks I4 and I5 through said brine tank. To this end, a pusher bar I'I isdesirably provided, extending transversely across the tank II at the input end thereof parallel Ato the floor I2.

The pusher bar I1 is so mounted that it may `be reciprooatedat right angles to its length in said-tank, a, distance greater than the length of each of the units. Although any suitable means ,may be used to mount the pusher bar I'I, in the embodiment herein shown, each end I3 of the bar is affixed as by welding to the end of the vertical leg I9 of a substantially L-shaped bracket 2|, the horizontal leg 22 of which is desirably aixed to a block 23 riding in a channel 24 mounted on the side walls 25 of the tank near the inputend thereof.

According to the, invention, means are provided automatically to lower a unit onto each ofthe pairs of tracksl I4 and I5, in timed relation Withthe advance Vof the transverse pusher bar I1 in the tank. To this end an elevator is associated with each of said pairs of tracks, which elevator as shown in Fig. l, desirably comprises a tray 28 having a substantially rectangular, preferably perforated floor 2S, of width desirably slightly less than the distance between the spaced angle irons I4, I5 forming each of the pairs of tracks, and of length desirably but slightly greater thanthe length of a conventional mold I6. The tray 28 has an upstanding wall 3I along each of the longitudinal edges thereof, said walls'having outwardly extending flanges 32 at the upper edges thereof desirably formed integraltherewith.` A u K l v39 of each of the pairs of angle irons which form the-tracks I4 `and I5.

The upper ends of each pair of the levers are pivotally mounted with respect to the tray 28,

preferably by means of horizontal pins 42 through hubs 43 respectively, the latter being desirably formed integral with each end of a strip 44 positionedv beneath each of the outwardly extending flanges 32 and clamped to such iianges byV means of bolts 4S, which extend through such strip 44 and through a strengthening strip 4'! positioned on the upper surface of each of said flanges.

As the distance -between the hubs 43 at the upper ends of the linkage arms 33 is equal to the distance between the hubs 36 at the lower ends of the arms and as the length of the arms are also equal, it is apparent that a parallel motion may be imparted to the tra'y 28 through the linkage thus described arms.

In order to actuate such parallel motion linkage, a stop 43 in the form of an arm having an oblique upwardly extending portion'llg is aixed as by welding near Athe lower ends of the rearmost arms 33 ofthe elevator. The stop 48 is so positioned that, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, when the pusher baril is in its rearmost retracted position, it will engage the oblique portion 49 of the .stop 48 with the levers 33 inclined forwardly with respect tofloor i2. Thus, the weight ofthe tray will retain the oblique portion 49 of the stop I 48 against the pusher bar I1 and hence retain the tray 28'in. its uppermost position, and when the. pusher bar I'i isadvanced and moves away lfrom the oblique portion 49 of the stop 48, the 4trayZt will be both advanced and lowered to its lowermost position as shown in Fig. 4, and the upper end 5i) of the oblique portion 4g will lie vin the path of the return movement of the pusher bar Il so that it may be engaged thereby. i In the operation of the installation, whenthe pusher bar I7 is inits rearmost positionengaging .the oblique portion 49 of the stop 48, as shown in Fig. 3, the tray 28 will be in its uppermost position with its oor 29 substantially horizontally'alig'ned with the upper surface I I of the front end of the brine tank. It is therefore a relatively simplev matter for the attendant to slide a Ymold and stick holder unit onto the tray without need .ior'him to bend or stoop. The pusher bar drive mechanism may thereupon be actuated to advance the pusher bar Il along channels 24 which will move the pusher bar I'I away from the obliquely extending portion 49 of the-stop` 48.V As a result of the forward movement of thefpusher bar, the weight of the unit on the rack will cause the linkage arms 33, which are in forwardlyinclined position, to pivot forward at their lower ends in the associated hubs 38. By reason of the pivotal connection of the upper ends of the Yarms to the side walls-3I of the tra@ a` parallel .motion will thereupon beimparted to- Suchey trayrgently to' lower andi to-move theunit thereon forwardly with such ibi-ay-Y until theA-oor of the latterv ispositoned between the angle ironsforming a pair of tracks asshown in 4*, the perforated licor-of suchY` trayV permit-- ting passage of liquid therethrough to facilitate its nofvernentthrough the liquidiv the brine tank. norderto prevent closure of the perforations; in the door by the bottoml off the unitwhenfitlisriplaced' onthe tray, the-mold'y |16;- i'sspaced from such floor-291by`-longitudinal Spacer plates GU'- aliixed` to: the edges ofvz the *floory of the tray and extending longi-tudiriall'yA thereof, seid spacer platescarryingtheiunit thereon.`

Duri-irg'the-course ory the-fo1'-ward movement of the tray,l as shown in Fig. 4f wlierli` such(y tray is ori-therloor |12 ofi tl-ie-bri-I1j tank;` pusher bar r-'F l'will; have movedaway from the oblique por'-` tlorr v`9i-of-` the stop 4d andv will thereupon abut against-the rear 'wall 2'6- of theunitv Continued advanceof? thepusher bar- |11 willi thereupon slide the off the tray betweenvtheassociated pair oiltracksY |241 and. tothe` positionshownl in Fig; te-f Atethistime the movement.. ot the pusher bar-` [1i-will be reversed, wherebyfit. is' reeiprocated and nieve hack to its original position. AS the upper.y end: so of the. obliqueporticn 4e; of: the stop 418; is the path. off movement of.'V the pusher bar W; when.: the latter cri-gages such stop 43', it will pivotlthe linkage arms` 33 and the resultant parfail'er :inflation` imparted. to the. tray willV cause thelatter to be simultaneously moved rearwardly and l-ftdf to-t'soriginallpstionready to receive aothl ilIlit.` y

as successive units. are placed voirthe tray and lwerediinto the bri-neftank and advanced oirthe tray 2-8 fin thefriiaiine'rl thus described, the front arid-voi' suchunits will beJnoVed-agains't the units previously lowered into` the tank and the pusher bar Will thereupon advance 'Said units along the track; lThis procedure. will bel repeated? as. successive are placed on: theztrayV with the re-i suit that-the plurality off units on. each off the pairs: ois'tracks. will be intermittently;` advanced along through theflorinel tank. Referring now to Figs.V 52 and'f; there isshown suitabla'driving or operating mechanisnrfor reciprocating the pusherI bari |12 longitudinally s of the@l brine tank Ifl, whereby the moldsi |61 are pus-hedzroif the elevator; trays won-to the tracks lizand I5l extending longitudinallythereof; i" best shown in: Fig.A 6; therefis :mounted xedly onthe-tops of. each ofthe elongated blocks 23; which.. areslidable in the channel guides 24 extending along; each side 2.5i of the brinetank Iii', suitable gear. racks 66' and 613,- Which extend inwardly from the input end of` the-tank-A |y adistanceslightly longer than thellengthofone mold tez.. The-.gear rack 65k' meshes with aspur gear Garanti the-gear rack lmeshes-w-ith asecond and similar spur geary 1"|` (see Fig'. V6). The spur-gears 69 and. 12|@ are keyed to-a transversely-extending driveshaftf121iournall'ed in suitable spaced bear= ingi supports 131- and 14. The driveshaft- 12 is enclosedi a tubularhousing 15"; The drive shaftfz has-Ja.. worm wheel 1'1 i secured'i-lxedly,A as indicated Ya-t` 1|?i to the endY thereofextending beyond the spur gear 1|. Therworm Wheel( 11 meshes-with a Worin 'F9-'keyedtoa-driveshaft nventionalgear -red1 .1"c:tiemY'box I; which, l gfcorineeteddireotlywith ,a `drive ,shaft tional reversible `electric motor 83; which isi-'ene ized andicontrolled l-tlnjciugina vennonarstarternoxi's-navingaserieseofmeon:

trol 'butos'f'; IWVVV 88; forE marrtially" startein-g; stopping and reversing the motor 83, re spectivelyf.v

The normal position of the elevati-ng apparatus is its loading position, which is best shown in Figs; 1 and 5 of theldrawings', whereinA thetrays 28 areA in an elevated position to receive filled moldsV |6. Assuming the apparatus is--inv such anormal `position with its'- trays'- 23'f loaded withinolds |36; the electric motor BS-nlayV b'e energized bymanuallyfpushingthe-starter button 86 ofs the controlbox 8342. The motor 83: operating/normally through the gearreductiorr box- 8| drives the driveshaft 12- and its 'xedispur gea-rs ligand-1| infa counterclockwise-` direction. Operating" in this manner, the spur gearsl 69 and 1| Wlldraw their respective geariracks litt-andY 61- inwardlyof thet'ankl pulling; theirfixed-fblocksvl 2'3"; inward lyv offv the ohanneh guidesu 2'4, which, in turn; through theL connecting brackets 2|v dra-w the pusher -bar I1`flongitudinal1yinwardly or forward;n l'yof the tank |`|,l thereby 'forcing the elevator trays 23 downwardlyandeventually pushing-'the mold;I ||v therefrorrr onto the' submerged-tracks; H and |15@ extend-ing longitudinally througl'r the' bri-nekv f When-the gear-rack G1? moves inwardly Jorfor war'dl'yl thev desired distance; -itstril'res-A a` linger 9|" operating a conventional-ll electric reversi-ng switch 92 (showndiagrammatieallyfin Figure" 17), which automaticallyv causes thefmotor 8|' tostop and their start upinI a reverse direction; With' the motorr @1r-now operating inf areverse or in a clockwise direction, the drive-'shaft 152 willi also be rotated in a-felockwisedirection; causingfits fixed spur gearsA $9 andi '111 'to` turn infthesame direction, which will drawf the gear racks Estland 61 rearwardlyor toward the input end of the brine tank, thereby-.fV causing the-pusher bar |f-1` to` be moved rearwardly in the; samedirectionf, which', in tur-ni willlengagethef-cam armslddpro iecting rearwardly and upwardly-from therear. pivotall arms 33 for supportingl the` traysl 281 and carry -them -rearwardl'yalso.` It-A will thus be ape pre'ciatedthat inthis manner the-elevatormech= anisin` is alwaysfreturnedto its normal'mol'd receivingposition.-y As the gear rack W15-is moved rearwar-dlyiintoits normal mold receivingposition',` as: best-showniiit Fgure, its forward endwillfengagea linger` 95' operating a conventional-limit' switcht lll5 Ywhich turns off the` electriccurrent tothe'mote-r' 8|, therelfiyY bri-nginggtlie operating" mechanism` to-- a stopin its normarraisedposition: Thermotor 8|-v may-again beenergi'zed by;` manually pushing the starterbuttonl `8'5\ for-repeating thef-op erating cycle; The-controllziuttonl 8K1 is l*a manual emergency control'for stopping th'efmotortltat any time lciu-rilugits cycle: Thecoritrolbutton- 88 iis a manual starting button for pausingthe motor; 8| to be` starte'drin itsi Areversing direction in thereventi the operatinginechanism hadr tobe stoppedbyfthecontrol:button-18l'l during the re'- versing portion'ofi-tscycler Y With the constructionthus described; a.. rel"-- ativelyj simple; structure isf, provided Awhich-may readilybemincorporated withd low cost" and with butfew changes in l a conventionalbrine tank and will enable' relatively heavy molds and stick holder units to bezdepositedgin 'such' brine tank with but little effort andstiain on the part' ofthe attendant and,` ,consequently, helV may; function ,at a much greater rjate of'Y speed withresultant enhance'd'outpllt 'alcl'alfsoas he lddesnot" havelto benditordepositthe mold intoithe* tank; there" 7 little likelihood of tilting of such mold with resultant spilling of the contents thereof which would cause the confections not to be uniform with the result that some of them might be unsaleable.

As many changes could be made in the above construction, and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from-the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1

1. In combination with a brine tank having a submerged mold receiving trackway extending horizontally thereof and a reciprocating pusher bar mounted transversely of the trackway adjacent the receiving end of said brine tank above the level of the brine thereof, a mold elevator including a horizontal tray mounted pivotally longitudinally above said trackway and forwardly of said pusher bar, said tray in its normal mold receiving position extending above said brine and adjacent the receiving end of said tank, means for reciprocating said pusher bar whereby said tray is moved forwardly and downwardly in a horizontal position until it is in substantial alignment with said trackway and below the plane of travel of said pusher bar whereby the latter engages the rear end of said mold and pushes it ofi said tray onto said trackway.

2. In combination with a brine tank having a spaced submerged mold receiving trackway extending horizontally and longitudinally thereof, and a reciprocating pusher bar mounted transversely adjacent the receiving end of said trackway above the level of the brine in said tank, a mold elevator including a horizontal tray mounted pivotally on said trackway and movable longitudinally thereof, said tray in its normal mold receiving position extending above said brine and adjacent the receiving end of said tank, means for reciprocating said pusher bar whereby said tray is moved forwardly and downwardly onto said trackway and below the plane of travel of said pusher bar so that the latter may engage the rear end of said mold and push it olf said tray onto said trackway.

3. In combination with a brine tank having a spaced submerged mold receiving trackway extending horizontally and longitudinally thereof and a reciprocating pusher bar mounted transversely adjacent the receiving end of said trackway above the level of the brine in said tank, a mold elevator including a horizontal tray mounted pivotally on forwardly inclined arms above said trackway and movable longitudinally thereof, said tray in its normal mold receiving position extending above said brine and adjacent the receiving end of said tank, means for reciprocating said pusher bar whereby it engages the arms of said tray and moves them forwardly and downwardly onto said trackway and below the plane of travel of said pusher bar which continues to move forwardly engaging the end of said mold and pushing it olf said tray onto said trackway, said inclined arms adjacent said pusher bar having means engageable by said pusher bar on its return movement to raise said tray to mold receiving position in said brine tank.

4. In combination with a brine tank having a submerged mold receiving trackway and a reciprocating pusher bar mounted transversely thereof adj acent the receiving end of said trackway above the level of the brine in said tank, a mold elevator including a horizontal tray mounted pivotally adjacent opposite ends and movable longitudinally above said trackway, said tray having its normal mold receiving position extending above said brine and adjacent the receiving end of said tank, and means for reciprocating said pusher bar on a horizontal plane longitdiunally of said trackway above the brine level in said tank whereby said tray is moved forwardly and downwardly by said pusher bar until it is in substantial alignment with said trackway so that said pusher bar may engage the end of the mold on said tray and push it of! onto said trackway.

5. In combination with a brine tank having a plurality of spaced submerged trackways extending longitudinally thereof and a reciprocating pusher bar extending transversely of said trackways adapted to be moved horizontally thereover above the brine level thereof, a mold elevator including a plurality of horizontally mounted trays having pivotally mounted upstanding arms extending above said pusher bar, said trays in their normal receiving position extending above the brine level of said tank, means for reciprocating said pusher bar above the liquid level of said brine whereby said pusher bar engages the upstanding arms of said trays and pushes them forwardly and downwardly until said trays are in substantial horizontal alignment with said trackways and below the plane of said pusher bar whereby the latter may pass over said trays and engage the molds position thereon to push them forwardly olf of said trays onto said trackways, and means carried by an upstandingr arm of said trays for engaging the pusher bar on its return movement to raise said trays back to their normal mold receiving position.

6. In combination with a brine tank having a series of spaced submerged mold receiving trackways extending longitudinally thereof and a reciprocating pusher bar extending transversely thereof above the level of the brine in said tank, a mold elevator including a plurality of horizon-A tal trays mounted pivotally on. said trackways with one tray to each trackway, said pusher bar when in its normal position being between said trays and the receiving ends of said trackways, means for reciprocating said pusher bar whereby it engages the uprights for said trays when moving forwardly to force the same below the level of said brine and below its own horizontal plane of movement until said pusher bar engages the molds positioned on said trays and forces them onto their respective trackways, means including a limit switch and reversible motor for reversing the movement of said pusher bar when said mold is moved ofi" said tray, means carried by the rearwardly arms of said tray for engaging said pusher bar on its return movement to cause said trays to be carried upwardly therewith to their normal mold receiving position, and means including a limit switch operated by said pusher bar mechanism for stopping said motor when the same has returned to its normal mold receiving position.

7. In combination with a brine tank having a series of spaced'moldreceiving trackways and a rec1procating pusher bar adapted to operate longitudinally of said trackways above the level of the brine in said tank, a mold elevator comprising a plurality of spaced rectangular horizontal trays, each tray being mounted pivotally on four forwardly inclined spaced arms secured pivotally to its respective trackway, means for moving said pusher bar forwardly whereby it engages the rearwardly pair of upstanding arms of each tray forcing them forwardly and downwardly until said trays are aligned horizontally with their respective trackways whereby said pusher arm may pass over said trays to engage the molds positioned thereon and move them onto their respective trackways, means for stopping the forward movement of said pusher bar and causing it to return to its normal position, means adapted to be engaged by said pusher bar on its return movement for raising said trays to their normal receiving position, and means for stopping the movement of said pusher bar when said trays have been lraised to their normal mold receiving position.

8. In combination with a brine tank having a series of spaced mold receiving trackways and a reciprocating pusher bar adapted to operate longitudinally of said trackways above the level of the brine in said tank, a mold elevator comprising a plurality of spaced rectangular horizontal trays, each tray being mounted pivotally on forwardly inclined upstanding spaced arms, the arms of each tray being also mounted pivotally to its respective trackway, means for moving said pusher bar forwardly of said trackways whereby it engages the rearwardly inclined arms of each of said trays forcing them forwardly and downwardly until said trays are aligned hori- Zontally with their respective trackways whereby said pusher arm may pass over said trays to engage the molds positioned'thereon and move them onto their respective trackways, means for stopping the forward movement of said pusher bar and causing it to return to its normal position, means carried by a rearwardly upstanding arm for engaging said pusherbar on its return movement for raising said trays to their normal receiving position, and means for stopping the movement of said pusher bar when said trays have been raised to their normal mold receiving position. l

TAMIS C. SCI-IENK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 227,503 Dorsey May 11, 1880 1,067,381 YSmith July 15, 1913 1,140,624 Smith May 25, 1915 2,092,938 Stebler Sept. 14, 1937 2,120,843 Shoemaker June 14, 1938 2,461,375 Efthhios Feb. 8, 1949 2,505,832 Lange May 2, 1950 

